Windshield washer system having submerged air driven pump

ABSTRACT

A windshield washer pump includes a rotor assembly comprising a pump impeller and a turbine wheel secured at opposite ends of a shaft; the shaft is journalled in a bearing disposed between the impeller and the turbine wheel. The assembly is disposed within a cylindrical housing; the bearing is press fitted therein. A source of compressed air is applied to opposite sides of the turbine wheel through an inlet port which communicates with a pair of grooved passages, each of the passages terminates at the turbine wheel chamber on opposite sides thereof. An exhaust port is provided in the turbine wheel chamber. An opening in the end wall of the cylindrical housing adjacent to the impeller serves as a washer solvent inlet port. An outlet port is formed in the housing side wall communicating with the impeller. The pump assembly is disposed within a solvent reservoir and is submersed in the solvent. Hoses connect the compressed air inlet port, the compressed air exhaust port and solvent discharge port with corresponding ports in the lid of the solvent reservoir. The discharge port in the lid is in turn connected to a pair of washer nozzles adjacent to the lower edge of the windshield. A manual control is provided to control communication between the compressed air inlet port at the pump and the source of compressed air.

United States Patet [1 1 DAlba :4 Sept. 18, 1973 1 WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM HAVING SUBMERGED AIR DRIVEN PUMP AnthonyR. DAlba, Williamsville, NY.

[73] Assignee: Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo,

22 Filed: Feb. 28, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 229,644

[75] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,792,192 5/1957 Wheeler 417/406 3,633,827 1/1972 Novak l5/250.02 X 2,701,528 2/1955 Angell 417/406 X 3,056,911 10/1962 Hart et al 15/250.01 X 3,316,847 5/1967 Mandy et al. 417/423 R Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorney-E. Herbert Liss [57] ABSTRACT A windshield washer pump includes a rotor assembly comprising a pump impeller and a turbine wheel secured at opposite ends of a shaft; the shaft is journalled in a bearing disposed between the impeller and the turbine wheel. The assembly is disposed within a cylindrical housing; the bearing is press fitted therein. A source of compressed air is applied to opposite sides ofthe turbine wheel through an inlet port which communicates with a pair of grooved passages, each of the passages terminates at the turbine wheel chamber on opposite sides thereof. An exhaust port is provided in the turbine wheel chamber. An opening in the end wall of the cylindrical housing adjacent to the impeller serves as a washer solvent inlet port. An outlet port is formed in the housing side wall communicating with the impeller. The pump assembly is disposed within a solvent reservoir and is submersed in the solvent. Hoses connect the compressed air inlet port, the compressed air exhaust port and solvent discharge port with corresponding ports in the lid of the solvent reservoir. The discharge port in the lid is in turn connected to a pair of washer nozzles adjacent to the lower edge of the windshield. A manual control is provided to control communication between the compressed air inlet port at the pump and the source of compressed air.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures WINDSIIIELD WASHER SYSTEM HAVING SUBMERGED AIR DRIVEN PUMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a windshield washer system including a high velocity pump, and more particularly to a system including a submersible compressed air powered turbine pump.

Various types of washer pumps for motor vehicles are known which are operated by air pressure, by vacuum or electrically. Both rotary and reciprocating type pumps are used in windshield washer systems. Where it is desired to provide a high velocity continuous stream of washer solvent, rotary type pumps are used. High velocity, rotary pumps are advantageous in that they provide a high velocity fluid discharge which overcomes the tendency of the car created windstream to deflect the stream of solvent away from the windshield. Vacuum and air pressure pumps are generally of the reciprocating piston or diaphragm type. Windshield washers are also known which produce a jet stream of water in which a source of air pressure communicates with a sealed fluid storage tank placing the liquid solvent under pressure to provide the force for discharging the fluid.

The air pressure washer is most often utilized in large vehicles such as trucks and buses which carry a source of compressed air such as the tank of a conventional air compressor. Known rotary-type high velocity pumps employ a small electric motor as the prime mover to drive an impeller. See for example US. Pat. No. 3,316,847 to Mandy et al. issued May 2, 1967. The electric motor-driven impeller introduces sealing problems. This type of pump must be gravity fed since it is not self-priming; therefore, the impeller must be submersed in washer solvent. In order to avoid damaging the motor and to obtain proper operation, the impeller must be separated from the motor by a liquid-tight seal. Prevention of leakage requires a difficult and expensive assembly. In time the seal wears resulting in leakage of fluid to the motor.

Another problem presented by the electrically driven rotary washer pump results from freezing of the washer solvent. Although washer solvent is available with antifreeze characteristics, said solvent is often not utilized and even if it is, many such solvents freeze at low temperature extremes. If the motor is energized while the impeller is immersed in the frozen solvent the high currents resulting from the stalled impeller will cause motor burnout.

Therefore, presently known electrical motor driven rotary pumps have the following disadvantages:

l. A complicated and expensive reservoir structure is required in order to provide for the pump priming while isolating the electric motor from the liquid;

2. Sealing between the electric elements and the pump is difficult to achieve, expensive and subject to wear and leakage; and

3. In case of freezing of the solvent there is likelihood of motor failure.

Presently known reciprocating type air pressure pumps are not capable of producing as high a velocity fluid stream as the rotary pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a small, compact pump which is relatively simple in construction and which is capable of discharging liquid at a relatively high velocity. It is powered by compressed air utilizing a turbine wheel to drive the impeller. No sealing is required between the prime mover and the impeller. The entire pump assembly can be totally contained within the solvent reservoir and may be immersed within the solvent. No sealing is required between the impeller section of the rotary assembly and the turbine wheel. A bearing press fitted in a cylindrical body provides sufficient isolation between the prime mover and the pump impeller. The small clearance at the bearing surface-permits only negligible leakage. That leakage is of no consequence since the moisture is discharged through the air exhaust port in the turbine section of the pump.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a small, compact, totally immersible pump assembly which is relatively simple in construction.

Another object to the invention is to provide a small, compact, relatively simple immersible pump assembly, particularly adapted for use with a source of compressed air.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a small, compact, relatively simple high velocity air turbine driven, rotary pump immersible in a windshield washer solvent reservoir, of any suitable design or construction having a balanced air input to the rotor assembly to prevent binding and wear.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the motor vehicle equipped with the windshield washer system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the reservoir and pump assembly partly in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the pump assembly taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the pump assemy;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 4 with the cover assembly removed; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view partly in section of the manual control of the windshield washer system of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, in FIG. 1 a motor vehicle indicated generally at 10 is equipped with a pair of windshield wiper arm and blade assemblies 12 reciprocable to and fro across the windshield by a motor and transmission assembly (not shown). A washer system for discharging solvent onto the windshield in the path of the wipers 12 comprises a reservoir 14, the manual control 16 and a source of compressed air indicated by the arrow 18. A flexible tube 20 connects the manual control 16 with the compressed air source 18. A flexible tube 22 connects the manual control with the compressed air inlet 24 of a pump 26 which is disposed within the reservoir 14. A tube 28 connects the discharge port 30 of the pump 26 through a T connector fitting 32 and tube 34 to a pair of nozzles (not shown) disposed adjacent to the lower edge of the windshield.

The reservoir 14 may be a container of any suitable size or shape with bracket means to secure it to a wall section within the engine compartment of the engine 10. It may be of any suitable material as for example thermo-plastic resin; it includes an opening for inserting the pump and for filling the reservoir with a suitable windshield washer solvent 36. The opening or mouth 35 may include a cover member or disc 38 having a plurality of apertures therethrough terminating in opposed nipples on opposite sides of the disc 38. Nipples 40, 40 may be utilized to secure the discharge hose 28 and the pump discharge tube 28'. A nipple 42 and an opposed nipple 42 may be provided to secure the air inlet hose 22 and the air inlet tube 22' respectively. A nipple 44 and a nipple 44' may be provided to secure a silencer or muffler 46 externally of the lid 38 and a pump exhaust hose 48. An internally threaded ring retainer 50 is provided to cooperate with the externally threaded mouth of the reservoir 14 and includes an inwardly extending circumferential flange 50' for retaining the lid or disc 38 on the reservoir. The pump 26 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 52 open at one end and having a base 54 at the other end with a central opening 56 forming an inlet port for the washer solvent. Adjacent the base 54 through the sidewall body 52 is a solvent discharge port 58 terminating in nipple 30 for receiving pump discharge hose 28'. The pump body may be formed of any suitable or desirable material and may be, as shown by Way of example, of molded plastic. Adjacent to the open end of the cylindrical body 52 through the side wall thereof is a compressed air intake port 60 terminating in nipple 24 for receiving pump air intake hose 22. The end edge of the sidewall of the cylindrical housing 52 at the open end is formed with a pair of grooves 62 and 62 extending from a recess 64 which is in communication with port 60 to the inner surface of the sidewall. The grooves 62 and 62' intersect the inner surface of the sidewall at diametrically opposed areas. The grooves 62 and 62 serve to direct the compressed air entering port 60 to opposite sides of the interior of the housing for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. An end cover 66 for the open end of the housing 52 is provided with a port 68 terminating in a nozzle 70. The port 68 serves as an exhaust for the compressed air. The nozzle 70 receives the exhaust hose 48. The end cover 66 may besecured to the housing in any suitable or desireable manner as, for example, by ultrasonic welding as at 72. For this purpose, an embossment 74 is provided on the end surface of the wall of housing 52. To accommodate the grooves 62 and 62' a peripheral radially extending flange 76 having a shape best seen in FIG. 6 is formed at the open end of pump housing 52.

The pump rotor assembly comprises a shaft 78 journalled in a bearing 80 having a turbine wheel 82 rigidly secured thereto at one end by any suitable or desirable means as, for example, by a press fit and a pump impeller 84 suitably and desirably fixed at the other end in a like manner. The turbine wheel is substantially cylindrical in cross-section and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending vanes 86. The pump impeller 84 is also substantially cylindrical in crosssection and includes a pair of axially extending vanes 88 and 88each offset laterally with respect to a diameter on opposite sides thereof. The turbine wheel 82 and the pump impeller 84 may be formed of any suitable or desirable material as, for example, powdered brass.

This simple rotor assembly is disposed within the housing 52, the impeller being located adjacent the base 54 and the turbine wheel 82 being located adjacent the cover as. The bearing makes an interference fit with the interior of housing '52 and is thus press fitted therein intermediate the impeller 84 and the turbine wheel 82 separating the interior of the housing into a pump chamber 90 and a turbine chamber 92. Except for the small clearance between the shaft 78 and bearing 80 the compartments 90 and 92 are substantially isolated. After insertion of the rotor assembly into the housing 52, the cover 66 is secured in position. The grooves 62 and 62' together with the surface of the cover 66 form passages for directing the compressed air to diametrically opposite sides of the turbine wheel 82, thereby providing, in operation. balanced forces on the turbine wheel 82 precluding binding and canting of the shaft.

The manual control 16 (FIG. 7) comprises a valve body 96 having an inlet port 98 and an outlet port 100. The body 98 includes a cylindrical internal surface comprising a valve seat section 102 and an enlarged diameter section 104 for receiving a push button. A valve stem 106 has a push button 108 at one end thereof slideably received and extending outwardly from enlarged diameter section 104. A portion of the valve stem 106 is slideably received within the valve seat section 102 and is formed as a spool valve having axially spaced lands 110 and 112 respectively. At the end of the valve stem 106 opposite the push button 108 the stern 106 is bifurcated. The bifurcated portion extends through an opening in the end wall of the valve seat section 102. The bifurcations are tapered and have rearwardly facing shoulders. A coil spring 114 is received on the valve stem and extends between the land 112 and the end wall of the valve seat 102 serving to bias the push button 108 outward. Thus the valve stem and push button are self-returning. The bifurcations extend through an opening of the end wall of the seat 102 and being resilient separate, whereby the inwardly facing shoulders retain the valve stem and push button in assembled condition. The inlet port 98 and the outlet port communicate with the chamber 102 formed by the cylindrical valve seat 102. When the push button is spring biased outwardly in the inoperative position, port 100 is isolated from port 98 by land 112. When the push button is depressed against the bias of spring 114 port 98 is in communication with port 100 through chamber 102 between land and 112. The outlet port 100 terminates in a nipple connected to hose 22. The inlet port 98 is connected through tube 20 to a suitable source of compressed air.

OPERATION The operation of the windshield washer system should now be apparent. When the button 108 is depressed against the bias of spring 114 the valve stem 106 moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 7 effecting communication between inlet port 98 and outlet port 100 through chamber 102' between lands 110 and H2 permitting compressed air from a storage tank or compressor to pass through hose 20, port 98, chamber 102 outlet port 100 through hose 22 to compressed air inlet port 60 through recess 64 dividing between passages 62 and 62, thereby causing the turbine wheel 82 to rotate turning shaft 78. Since impeller 84 is fixed to the shaft 78 impeller 84 rotates at a relatively high speed.

Washer solvent charges the chamber 90 through opening 56 by gravity flow and is discharged by rotation of the impeller 84 through port 58, the hose 28' and through nipples 40 and 40 in cover plate 38 to hose 28 and thence to hose 34 through the nozzles to the wind shield. The compressed air entering the turbine chamber section 92 is exhausted through port 68, hose 48 and nipples 44' through the cover plate 38 to the exhaust port 44. The exhaust port 44 is equipped with a silencer or muffler 46 which prevents undesirable noises and vibration. When the push button 108 is released, spring 1 14 returns the valve stem and push button 108 to its dormant condition and land 112 isolates port 98 from port 100 cutting off compressed air flow to the pump. The system is then in condition for beginning another operation when desired. High velocity, continuous flow of fluid to the windshield is obtained in this manner. It is obvious that should there be any leakage through the bearing from pump chamber 90 to the turbine chamber 92, these minute quantities of liquid would be of little consequence and would be discharged through the exhaust hose 48 along with the stream of compressed air.

An extremely simplified windshield washer pump assembly has been provided which is capable of delivering a continuous stream of washer solvent at relatively high velocity. The pump is of the rotary type and is capable of being operated by compressed air, eliminating the disadvantages of an electrically operated rotary pump in a liquid system. No sealing is required between the prime mover and the pump impeller. The pump may be totally submerged eliminating priming problems. It is relatively small and compact. Freezing of the solvent will not cause breakdown of the pump. Thus, a particularly suitable, novel pump, simple and efficient has been provided for a windshield washer system for a motor vehicle.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent that in its broader aspects various modifications and other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement shown, but in its broadest aspects it includes all equivalent embodiments and modifications which come within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A windshield washer system comprising a washer solvent reservoir and a totally submersible air pressure turbine pump submerged within said solvent reservoir, said pump including a cylindrical pump bc dy having a turbine chamber at one end, a pump chamber at the other end thereof, a port communicating with said pump chamber for priming said pump, a solvent discharge port in said pump chamber, a compressed air inlet port and an exhaust port communicating with said turbine chamber, a unitized rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a turbine wheel fixed at one end of said shaft, a pump impeller fixed at the other end of said shaft and a bearing journaling said shaft disposed intermediate said pump impeller and said turbine wheel, said bearing being press fitted within said cylindrical body isolating said pump chamber from said turbine chamber, said turbine wheel being disposed within said turbine chamber, said pump impeller being disposed within said pump chamber.

2. A windshield washer system according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical body includes a radial flange at its end adjacent said turbine chamber, having a pair of grooves formed on its end face, said grooves on one end terminating at circumferentially spaced apart locations at the inner surface of said cylindrical body and at the compressed air inlet part at their other ends, a closure cap having a surface in juxtaposition with the end face of said flange to form with said grooves a pair of conduits for directing compressed air to the turbine wheel.

3. A windshield washer system according to claim 2 wherein said grooves terminate at diametrically opposed sides of the internal surface of the cylindrical body thereby impressing balanced forces on the turbine wheel.

4. A windshield washer system according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir includes a closure cap having ports corresponding to the ports of said turbine pump with corresponding ports connected by tubing, said exhaust port in said closure cap includes a sound muffler disposed thereon.

5. A submersible windshield washer pump for motor vehicles comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a wall on one end thereof, a radially extending flange at the other end of said body, a closure cap secured to said radially extending flange, a central aperture in said wall forming a washer solvent inlet port, a radially extending solvent discharge port in said body adjacent said wall, a compressed air inlet port extending radially through the body adjacent said radially extending flange adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air, an axially extending air exhaust port in said closure cap, a pair of grooves formed in the face of said flange, adjacent said closure cap and forming therewith a pair of conduits, said pair of conduits merging at one end and communicating with said compressed air inlet port at said one end, said conduits terminating at circumferentially spaced positions at their other ends at the internal surface of said cylindrical body and a unitized rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a pump impeller rigidly secured at one end of said shaft, a turbine wheel rigidly secured at the other end of said shaft and a bearing disposed on said shaft intermediate said pump impeller and said turbine wheel, said unitized rotor assembly being disposed in said cylindrical body with said bearing being press fitted therein to divide said body into a pump chamber and a turbine chamber isolated from each other by said bearing, the impeller being disposed in said pump chamber adjacent said end wall and said turbine wheel being disposed in said turbine chamber adjacent said closure cap whereby said pair of conduits direct compressed air from said port to said turbine wheel to cause rotation thereof which in turn effects rotation of said impeller to cause washer solvent to be discharged at relatively high velocity. 

1. A windshield washer system comprising a washer solvent reservoir and a totally submersible air pressure turbine pump submerged within said solvent reservoir, said pump including a cylindrical pump body having a turbine chamber at one end, a pump chamber at the other end thereof, a port communicating with said pump chamber for priming said pump, a solvent discharge port in said pump chamber, a compressed air inlet port and an exhaust port communicating with said turbine chamber, a unitized rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a turbine wheel fixed at one end of said shaft, a pump impeller fixed at the other end of said shaft and a bearing journaling said shaft disposed intermediate said pump impeller and said turbine wheel, said bearing being press fitted within said cylindrical body isolating said pump chamber from said turbine chamber, said turbine wheel being disposed within said turbine chamber, said pump impeller being disposed within said pump chamber.
 2. A windshield washer system according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical body includes a radial flange at its end adjacent said turbine chamber, having a pair of grooves formed on its end face, said grooves on one end terminating at circumferentially spaced apart locations at the inner surface of said cylindrical body and at the compressed air inlet port at their other ends, a closure cap having a surface in juxtaposition with the end face of said flange to form with said grooves a pair of conduits for directing compressed air to the turbine wheel.
 3. A windshield washer system according to claim 2 wherein said grooves terminate at diametrically opposed sides of the internal surface of the cylindrical body thereby impressing balanced forces on the turbine wheel.
 4. A windshield washer system according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir includes a closure cap having ports corresponding to the ports of said turbine pump with corresponding ports connected by tubing, said exhaust port in said closure cap includes a sound muffler disposed thereon.
 5. A submersible windsHield washer pump for motor vehicles comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a wall on one end thereof, a radially extending flange at the other end of said body, a closure cap secured to said radially extending flange, a central aperture in said wall forming a washer solvent inlet port, a radially extending solvent discharge port in said body adjacent said wall, a compressed air inlet port extending radially through the body adjacent said radially extending flange adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air, an axially extending air exhaust port in said closure cap, a pair of grooves formed in the face of said flange, adjacent said closure cap and forming therewith a pair of conduits, said pair of conduits merging at one end and communicating with said compressed air inlet port at said one end, said conduits terminating at circumferentially spaced positions at their other ends at the internal surface of said cylindrical body and a unitized rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a pump impeller rigidly secured at one end of said shaft, a turbine wheel rigidly secured at the other end of said shaft and a bearing disposed on said shaft intermediate said pump impeller and said turbine wheel, said unitized rotor assembly being disposed in said cylindrical body with said bearing being press fitted therein to divide said body into a pump chamber and a turbine chamber isolated from each other by said bearing, the impeller being disposed in said pump chamber adjacent said end wall and said turbine wheel being disposed in said turbine chamber adjacent said closure cap whereby said pair of conduits direct compressed air from said port to said turbine wheel to cause rotation thereof which in turn effects rotation of said impeller to cause washer solvent to be discharged at relatively high velocity. 